It’s the 1950’s in Santa Lucia, California, and the height of the social season. Time for the new Miss Santa Lucia, Nora Burbank, to display her loveliness at a high society fashion show produced by the city’s own fashionistas–Margot and Daphne, owners of Poppy Cove, the most elegant and “in” little dress shop in the county.

Nora steals the show in her designer gown and custom-made necklace created by local jeweler Isaac Mendelson, and used on the sly by his apprentice son-in-law, Efrem Goldberg. At the conclusion of the show, the young queen is allowed to keep her dress and a replica of the necklace for her own. But Monday morning, Efrem arrives in a panic at Poppy Cove to beg Margot and Daphne’s assistance in tracking down the real necklace, which he believes was inadvertently switched for the replica backstage. The girls get involved in Efrem’s dilemma and try to help him before Isaac’s any the wiser. But before that can happen, Miss Santa Lucia is found dead in her bed and the necklace is missing.

Who killed Nora Burbank? Is it someone jealous of her new royal position and all of its perks? Or did she just happen to be in the way when a thief attempted to steal her diamond-studded necklace? Did Nora have the real or the fake necklace, and how much did the thief and murderer know about it? But, of course, before the girls can find the killer, they’ll have to create several beautiful ensembles, calm numerous irate clients, and flirt with their ever-so-attentive boyfriends, before solving this mystery.

ABOUT THESE AUTHORS

Barbara Jean Coast is the pen name of authors Andrea Taylor and Heather Shkuratoff, both of whom reside in Kelowna, BC, Canada. Barbara Jean, however, is a resident of Santa Lucia, California (eerily similar to Santa Barbara), where she enjoys long lunches, cocktail parties, fancy dinner dates with attractive and attentive gentlemen. Her interests include Alfred Hitchcock movies, reading Carolyn Keene, music by popular musicians, such Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, shopping for new dresses, attending society events and always looking fabulous in kitten heels. DEATH OF A BEAUTY QUEEN is her second novel in the Poppy Cove Mystery Series.

Andrea Taylor

Andrea always imagined herself being a supersleuth girl detective and writing adventurous stories, full of mystery and intrigue since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She resides in Kelowna, BC, Canada, where she writes under the pen name of Barbara Jean Coast with her co-author friend, Heather Shkuratoff, and travels often to California to further develop the stories and escapades of the Poppy Cove Mystery Series. Andrea has also published freelance articles about fashion, current events, and childcare, and is currently blogging on WordPress about creativity and poetry, as well as researching for her own literary novels.

Heather Shkuratoff

As an avid mystery reader, Heather joined lifelong friend Andrea Taylor to create the Poppy Cove Mystery Series, written under the pen name of Barbara Jean Coast. Growing up in a family of talented crafters and sewers, Heather developed her own skills to become a dressmaker and designer, which helps to give rich detail and character to their stories. She lives in Kelowna, BC, Canada, but spends much time in California, researching for the novels and doing her best to live like Barbara Jean.

MY REVIEW

This is a fun new (2nd book) series. And if you are a fan and follow the authors online, it is even more fun. I can’t fathom working with another person to write, it must be so hard. But these two talented ladies not only write together, they manage to maintain a third person – Barbara Jean Coast. Barbara Jean stays in her proper but fun 1950’s persona at all times. She’s almost as fun as the books! And the books are fun. Lots of fifties fashion, lots of flirting, and most importantly of all, a very well crafted mystery at the heart of it all that will keep you guessing and reading until the end. Another ♥♥♥♥♥

Leave a comment for Heather or Andrea and a fifties related question, perhaps, for Barbara Jean herself for a chance to win an e-copy of DEATH OF A BEAUTY QUEEN.

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Jack Getze has been here a couple of times before. As a matter of fact, on his first visit, he won The Pee Your Pants Laughing Award (very prestigious lol). And you will continue laughing this time out with BIG MOJO. I don’t want to say an old dog can’t learn new tricks because Austin has grown since his first outing in BIG NUMBERS (followed by BIG MONEY – wonder where he’s going with this title thing, but I digress). Austin has grown, he is becoming a very good and involve parent and a pretty good business man. But never fear, a red head can still turn his head and that is when the trouble for Austin, and fun for us, begins. Another ♥♥♥♥♥ outing for Mr. Getze. Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win an e-copy of BIG MOJO.

Wall Street’s miasmal garbage washes up on the Jersey Shore when a small time broker falls in love: Is he attracted to the beautiful lady — or her brother’s inside information? Held spellbound by a steamy, auburn-haired woman with a questionable past and a get-rich-quick, insider trading scheme, Austin Carr knocks down a beehive of bad-acting Bonacellis, including the ill-tempered Mr. Vic Bonacelli, who wants his redhead back, and local mob lieutenant Mama Bones Bonacelli, architect of a strange and excruciating death trap for the fast-talking stockbroker she calls smarty pants. To survive, Austin must unravel threads of jealousy, revenge and new affections, discovering the fate of a pseudo ruby called the Big Mojo, and close the lid on a pending United States of America vs. Austin Carr insider trading case. Can Austin and his Jersey Shore mouthpiece possibly out maneuver the savvy U.S. District Attorney from Manhattan? Does anything matter for Austin again if Mama Bones flips that switch?

Former Los Angeles Times reporter Jack Getze is Fiction Editor for Anthony nominated Spinetingler Magazine, one of the internet’s oldest websites for noir, crime, and horror short stories. Through the Los Angeles Times/Washington Post News Syndicate, his news and feature stories were published in over five-hundred newspapers and periodicals worldwide. His two screwball mysteries, BIG NUMBERS and BIG MONEY, are being reissued by DOWN & OUT BOOKS, with the new BIG MOJO to follow. His short stories have appeared in A Twist of Noir and Beat to a Pulp. Getze is an Active Member of Mystery Writers of America’s New York Chapter.

Thanks to Kate for hosting us today and happy holiday greetings to everyone! Once Upon a Grind is not only a murder mystery, it’s also a culinary mystery. Coffeehouse Manager Clare Cosi samples some fascinating New York foods as she tries to solve the crime against “Sleeping Beauty,” and she cooks up some tasty goodies, as well.

Marc and I enjoyed researching unique foods for our latest book, and we’ve included recipes for some of them in Once Upon a Grind. For a quick look at the recipe section, click here. The link opens a free PDF Recipe Guide that you can save, share, or print and tuck into your copy of Once Upon Grind.

Cookie Swap! Today we’re also sharing one of our favorite holiday cookie recipes: Gingerbread Snowballs. (Right now, it’s one of the most popular hits on our recipe blog.) To get the recipe, click here.

We hope you’ll join us for more stops on our Escape Blog Tour. We’ll give you more insights to reading Once Upon a Grind, and we’ll share a few more holiday goodies, too.

SECRET CODE: The 3rd of the 9 words in Cleo’s Secret Code Contest is DON’T(Learn how to enter Cleo’s Secret Code giveaway here.)

May your holidays be bright!

~ Alice and Marc (Cleo Coyle)

ABOUT THIS AUTHOR

CLEO COYLE is the pseudonym for Alice Alfonsi, writing in collaboration with her husband, Marc Cerasini. CLEO COYLE grew up in a small town near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After earning scholarships to study writing at Carnegie Mellon and American Universities, she began her career as a cub reporter for The New York Times. Now an author of popular fiction and New York Times bestselling media tie-in writer, Cleo lives and works in New York City, where she collaborates with her husband (also a bestselling author) to pen the Coffeehouse Mysteries for Penguin. Together Cleo and her husband also write the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries under the name Alice Kimberly. When not haunting coffeehouses, hunting ghosts, or rescuing stray cats, Cleo and Marc are bestselling media tie-in writers who have penned properties for NBC, Lucasfilm, Disney, Fox, Imagine, and MGM. In their spare time they cook like crazy and drink a lot of java. You can learn more about Cleo, her husband, and the books they write by visiting www.CoffeehouseMystery.com.

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Fairy tale fever has descended on New York City. Broadway fans are flocking to Red Riding Hood: The Musical; museums are exhibiting art inspired by the Brothers Grimm; and Clare Cosi and her merry band of baristas give their coffee truck a “Jack and the Beanstalk” makeover for a Central Park festival. Clare’s coffee hunter ex-husband contributes a bag of African beans with alleged magical properties. His octogenarian mother entertains customers with readings of the grinds, but Clare remains skeptical–until she receives a vision that helps her find a young model’s body in the park’s woods.

The police dismiss “sleeping beauty” as the victim of a drug overdose. Then Clare uncovers evidence that points to a list of suspects–from a New York Giant to quite a few wicked witches–and a cold case murder that reaches back to the Cold War. Now Clare is really in the woods with a dangerous predator on her heels and an investigation that leads from a secret Prince Charming Club right back to her own NYPD detective boyfriend. If she doesn’t solve this mystery, those magic beans predict an unhappy ending.

MY REVIEW

Matt brings back “magic beans” from Ethiopia. Coffee beans with special properties. Properties that affect special people like Shamans. And Claire. Will her visions help solve the mystery? This is the kind of book you start in the evening and in the morning you’re found on the couch, snoring with book fallen to the floor. I suspect Alice and Marc are incapable of writing anything less than a ♥♥♥♥♥ book. And I have read ALL their books (in other series as well). So now you know the book is good, let’s talk about the risks. This lifelong tea drinker now owns a French Press. And I am seriously addicted to Alice’s peanut butter cookies. But what the heck, live dangerously and read this series from book one if you haven’t, and if you are an addict like me, your fix is here!!!

IN ADDITION TO THE SECRET CODE GIVEAWAY, YOU COULD WIN A COPY OF THE BOOK JUST BY LEAVING A COMMENT HERE. THEN IF YOU GO HERE, SCROLL DOWN TO THE RAFFLECOPTER, YOU COULD WIN THIS FANTASTIC PRIZE PACKAGE:

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Sybil Johnson’s love affair with reading began in kindergarten with “The Three Little Pigs.” Visits to the library introduced her to Encyclopedia Brown, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle and a host of other characters. Fast forward to college where she continued reading while studying Computer Science. After a rewarding career in the computer industry, Sybil decided to try her hand at writing mysteries. Her short fiction has appeared in Mysterical-E and Spinetingler Magazine, among others. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in Southern California where she enjoys tole painting, studying ancient languages and spending time with friends and family. Sybil is here today on tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours with her new book, FATAL BRUSHSTROKE.

My Writing Journey

by Sybil Johnson

I never expected to write mystery novels, let alone have one published. I’d been a fan of crime fiction ever since I discovered Encyclopedia Brown in grade school and Agatha Christie in junior high, but I’d always thought a mystery would be too difficult to write.

My experience in the fiction world was limited to a few stories I’d written in grade school and junior high. I’d never tackled anything as complicated as a novel. The only writing I’d done as an adult were technical papers and design documents in my life as a software developer/manager. Other than those and the required papers in college, that was pretty much it.

Then one day I woke up with an idea that just wouldn’t go away—a young woman finds the body of her tole painting teacher in her garden—and a mystery writer was born.

Not right away, of course. Off and on, over a period of many years, I wrote stories and studied the art and craft of fiction writing. I read every book on the subject I could get my hands on and took a couple online courses specifically geared toward writing mysteries. I studied plotting, characters, setting and description. I analyzed short stories and novels I enjoyed reading, trying to figure out what made them tick.

Over the years, I wrote a half-dozen short stories, using them to develop characters and improve my plotting skills. After submitting each of them to numerous print and online markets, I eventually found homes for them all in online magazines. The submission process often took one or two years per story, which was a little disheartening, but I persevered.

While I studied and wrote short stories, I continued writing the book that would eventually become my first published novel, Fatal Brushstroke. I finished draft after draft, figuring out what worked and what didn’t. I have no idea how many drafts I finished over the years. I just kept on plugging away.

During this period, I joined my local Sisters in Crime chapter, meeting many fellow writers and learning from them. I also served on the chapter’s board and co-chaired a writing conference, gaining knowledge about writing and the business of publishing in the process.

Finally, one day I finished the umpteenth draft of my novel and felt it was publishable. By this time, ten or fifteen years had elapsed. This coincided with my attendance at the California Crime Writers Conference where I met the managing editor of Henery Press. Nine months and a few drafts later, I had a publishing contract in hand. My dream of having a novel published has now come true, less than two years after I submitted the book to Henery.

My writing journey continues. I’ve learned a lot along the way. I’m still honing my writing skills, but I now believe I understand how a mystery novel basically works and how it differs from a short story. I have a writing process that works for me. I know a lot more about the publishing industry than I did when I started. And I have a lot of writer friends to talk with about writing, contracts, and marketing.

But, most important, I’ve learned that with persistence and a lot of elbow grease, you can make your dreams come true.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A dead body in her garden and a homicide detective on her doorstep…

Computer programmer and tole-painting enthusiast Aurora (Rory) Anderson doesn’t envision finding either when she steps outside to investigate the frenzied yipping coming from her own backyard. After all, she lives in Vista Beach, a quiet California beach community where violent crime is rare and murder even rarer.

Suspicion falls on Rory when the body buried in her flowerbed turns out to be someone she knows—her tole painting teacher, Hester Bouquet. Just two weekends before, Rory attended one of Hester’s weekend painting seminars, an unpleasant experience she vowed never to repeat. As evidence piles up against Rory, she embarks on a quest to identify the killer and clear her name. Can Rory unearth the truth before she encounters her own brush with death?

In the short time they have been around, Henery Press has become one of the places you can go to for a cozy you know you will enjoy. And they have another winner with FATAL BRUSHSTROKE. Good characters you will want to get to know. Here and in future books. A good series setup with tole painting as a backdrop. ♥♥♥♥♥

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I’ve been an aspiring author since high school when I wrote short stories to amuse family members. I began my first novel while attending college later in life, and while working in the offices of a major soft drink company. Even though my job, my home, and my family always took precedence, I continued to attend writing classes and work on my novels. Now, after taking early retirement, I finally have the chance to do what I love best; write full-time. While I enjoy playing the piano, being an organic gardener, and an amateur Lapidary, writing has always been my passion. I was a former member of the Agatha Christie Society and am currently a member of Sisters in Crime. I write mysteries with light romance and a little humor. My husband and I live in a suburb of Chicago along with our Black Lab/Pit Bull, Bailey.

Once Upon a Crime
Romantic Suspense
Published by Wings ePress (September 1, 2014)E-Book File Size: 509 KB
Print Length: 265 pages
ASIN: B00N8AIEWULove isn’t always a fairy tale…and Charlotte Ross has kissed her share of frogs, but that’s all behind her. Fleeing her life for a short break, Charlotte, along with her best friend Jane Marshall, find themselves at her aunt’s home in the sleepy town of Raven’s Caw, Michigan. Charlotte hopes to recover from another breakup with her fiancé, and her friend Jane, a new mystery writer, is looking forward to somewhere relaxing. But life has different plans for the two friends and they find themselves swept up in a whirlwind of romance, mystery and murder.

Sparks fly between Jane and Charlotte’s attractive, Machiavellian cousin, Kenny. But is the attraction too good to be true or just a diversion from a mystery that has piqued her interest? Charlotte is pulled along on this roller-coaster of emotion when she meets up with her first love, as she and Jane discover links between a murder that happened twelve years earlier and a recent crime. Risking their lives and hearts, the friends race against the past in an effort to solve the crimes before one of them becomes the next victim.

I really enjoyed this book. Jane Marshall is a new mystery writer who made me think of a young Jessica Fletcher. She is taking some time off with friend Charlotte and decides to solve an old murder. Well you just know that leads to a new one. There is a bit of romance for both Jane and Charlotte and you will be kept guessing throughout this very well written story, never sure who the “bad guys” are from one minute to the next. A solid ♥♥♥♥♥

In real life, John’s not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less – that’s no small trick. He’s also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they’ve made more than the films.

His blog, “Fast, Cheap Movie Thoughts” has been named “One of the 50 Best Blogs for Moviemakers” and “One of The 100 Best Blogs For Film and Theater Students.” He’s also written for TV and the stage.

John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.

Newly-single magician Eli Marks reluctantly attends his high school reunion against his better judgment, only to become entangled in two deadly encounters with his former classmates. The first is the fatal mugging of an old crush’s husband, followed by the suspicious deaths of the victim’s business associates.

At the same time, Eli also comes to the aid of a classmate-turned-movie-star who fears that attempting The Bullet Catch in an upcoming movie may be his last performance. As the bodies begin to pile up, Eli comes to the realization that juggling these murderous situations — while saving his own neck — may be the greatest trick he’s ever performed.

MY REVIEW

I loved the first book, THE AMBITIOUS CARD (which happen to be on sale for 99¢ right now! be sure and grab it to start you off), and this second book did not disappoint. I love mysteries that teach me something new and as I know nothing about magic tricks, these books are a delight. This book opens with first time therapy patient Eli at a session. He’s having “uncontrolled panic, an intense physical reaction, suicidal ideation, and a sense he is losing control and might harm himself if he can’t get away from a high location”. After hearing about recent events, book one in other words, the therapist decides he needs therapy two or three times a week, LOL. Of course, Eli has more important matters to take care of. Someone is trying to kill his friend, actor Jake North, either because he is making a movie about magician Terry Alexander who died trying to perform the magic trick known as The Bullet Catch, or because Jake used to be “The Cloaked Conjurer”, exposing how magic tricks are done. Jake is sure he will die in the last scene so Eli is along to see that he doesn’t. A book you will want to read and a series you will follow, this one is ♥♥♥♥♥

Amy Metz is a former first grade teacher and the mother of two grown sons. When not actively engaged in writing, enjoying her family, or surfing Facebook or Pinterest, Amy can usually be found with a mixing spoon, camera, or book in one hand and a glass of sweet tea in the other. Amy lives in Louisville, Kentucky and she is currently on tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours with MURDER & MAYHEM IN GOOSE PIMPLE JUNCTION. And Amy is giving an e-book copy to one reader of this blog. Just leave her a comment or ask a question about the book to be in with a chance to win.

SYNOPSIS

Murder & Mayhem in Goose Pimple JunctionPaperback: 252 pagesPublisher: Blue Publications; 2 edition (September 7, 2014)ISBN-13: 978-0989714020E-Book File Size: 563 KBASIN: B00NE1H8FW
When Tess Tremaine starts a new life in the colorful town of Goose Pimple Junction, curiosity leads her to look into a seventy-five-year-old murder. Suddenly she’s learning the foreign language of southern speak, resisting her attraction to local celebrity Jackson Wright, and dealing with more mayhem than she can handle.

A bank robbery, murder, and family tragedy from the 1930s are pieces of the mystery that Tess attempts to solve. As she gets close to the truth, she encounters danger, mystery, a lot of southern charm, and a new temptation for which she’s not sure she’s ready.

MY REVIEW

A bit heavy on the romance, which I usually don’t like. But I loved it! Flashbacks which I usually find drag a story, at least a cozy, down. But they worked! Which just goes to show you it is not the elements of the story that matter as much as the skill of the author. And Amy Metz has mad skills! (That means good, no great LOL) I hope Tess Tremaine has lots more mysteries to solve and Amy Metz keeps wanting to tell us about them because I want to keep reading this series for years! It is definitely ♥♥♥♥♥

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Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun. Julie lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world. Until she gets around to changing the world she is on tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for her newest book, MURDER IN REAL TIME and she is going to tell us a little bit about a possible alternative career *wink*. Be sure to take a minute to say hi to Julie in the comments below and if you want a chance to win e-copies of all three books in the Patience Price Mysteries, be sure and go HERE.

If Writing Falls Through, I’m Going to Open a T-Shirt Shop

I’m a collector of T-shirts. Not intentionally. In fact, I only just realized my collection was a collection when I cleaned my closet and found a few shirts with tags still attached and one shirt in multiple sizes (my weight fluctuates from tolerable to don’t-look-at-me, so the wardrobe accommodates). The deeper I dug through the recesses of old bridesmaid dresses and school sweatshirts, the more t-shirts I found. When my husband came home that night, I had the t-shirt pile centered on the kitchen table, and it nearly reached the light.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“They’re t-shirtsform my closet,” I said. “Did you know I had this many goofy t-shirts?”

I should stop and point out my t-shirts aren’t nice, high-end, scoop-neck numbers in gorgeous hues with endless thread counts. No. Mine are the Hanes Her Way / Fruit of the Loom, novelty kind. They have rectangular boy shapes, come mostly in neutral colors and some kid in sunglasses probably pressed a decal onto them while hitting on a tourist over the counter. My shirts say things like, “I make stuff up.” It’s funny because I’m a writer. I really do that. Another long-time favorite is: “Plagiarism is faster.” I think I got that one in college. My professors loathed it. “Talk Nerdy to Me” was the shirt I had in multiple sizes. A silhouette of rectangular-framed glasses supported the big pink words. Cute, right? I’m old enough to embrace my inner nerd these days. Definitely adorable.

Anyway. That day with my husband and the pile on the table, he said, “Well, if writing falls through, you can always open a t-shirt shop.” Bless his heart. He meant to open a shop and sell all the shirts blocking his dinner. What I heard was, “Sweetie, you should open your own t-shirt shop! Think of how much fun that would be. You can create all the shirts you want. Choose the styles and designs, hire kids who won’t wear sunglasses indoors, and you can make up all the cutie sayings you want.” I was in love with that idea. He still wanted dinner.

Sadly, I don’t have time to open an actual-anything, so I made a virtual shop in my cozy series with Carina Press, The Patience Price Mysteries. Patience’s parents have an island t-shirt and holistic shop. Her dad sells all sorts of goofy shirts. Most are the do-it shirts. Do you know those? For example: when the fall birders come to town, he makes shirts that say things like Birders do it in the forest. Patience’s best friend works at the local FBI, so her dad makes a little pink shirt, FBIs do it undercover, shirt and horrifies his daughter by presenting it to the friend – who loved it. His shirts are sometimes funnier because he’s so sincerely excited to make them. At Halloween, he has a line of ghost hunter shirts. Ghost hunters do it in the dark. I had an absolute blast making up t-shirt slogans for her dad, especially ones I knew would drive my heroine crazy. Her name’s Patience, but the poor thing wasn’t blessed with her namesake. Impossible, I love her more than the shirts.

If you’re in the mood for a fun new series with lovable characters, intrigue and silly shirts, I hope you’ll give Murder in Real Time a try. I did my best to make you smile.

Murder in Real Time

With the chaos of summer tourists and fall birders out of town, counselor Patience Price is looking forward to the quiet life she remembers. She longs for some peace. And an apple fritter. But the calm is cut short when a reality show sets up camp to film a special about ghosts on her little island. Now fans, reporters and crew have flocked to sleepy Chincoteague. Who knew ghost hunters had an entourage?

When two cast members are killed in a room at the local B&B—a room usually occupied by Patience’s FBI agent boyfriend, Sebastian—she finds herself on the case. Sebastian doesn’t want Patience ruffling any feathers but, as always, she can’t help herself.

Patience promises to let Sebastian handle the investigation—he is FBI, after all—but after a drive-by shooting, her wicked curiosity gets the best of her. And with the TV show forging ahead with filming, the list of suspects (and the line of food trucks) only grows. But has the shooter already flown the coop? And how do you find a killer when you don’t know who the target is?

MY REVIEW

This was a fun new mystery. I liked the characters and the location. While you can jump right in and start with this book and not be at all lost, it stands alone, I find I want to know more and will go back to read the first two in the series. Always the best recommendation I can give a book. ♥♥♥♥

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Linda O. Johnston’s first published fiction appeared in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and won the Robert L. Fish Memorial Award for Best First Mystery Short Story of the year. Since then, Linda, a former lawyer who is now a full-time writer, has published more short stories, novellas, and 37 romance and mystery novels, including the Pet Rescue Mystery Series, a spinoff from her Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime, plus Harlequin Romantic Suspense as well as the Alpha Force paranormal romance miniseries for Harlequin Nocturne. Her latest cozy mystery series, the Superstition Mysteries from Midnight Ink, kicks off in October 2014 with LOST UNDER A LADDER. Linda believes that reading the Superstition Mysteries will bring good luck! And we are lucky today because Linda is joining us for the final day of her tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. Enjoy her post, leave her a comment or ask her a question and for a chance to win a copy of LOST UNDER A LADDER, go HERE.

Creating A Town

Those of you who are familiar with my mysteries know that my two prior series, the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries, and its spinoff, the Pet Rescue Mysteries, are both set in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. That’s not too surprising, since it’s where I’ve lived for a long time.

But I’ve created a new town as the setting for my latest series, the Superstition Mysteries. The stories are set in Destiny, California, a town that is all about–what else?–superstitions! Superstitious beliefs are a way of life there. The townsfolk all make their livings off superstitions, teaching the plentiful tourists about them and selling them related products.

The background for the series is that my protagonist Rory Chasen arrives in Destiny at the beginning of the first story, LOST UNDER A LADDER, seeking information and closure. Do superstitions really come true? Maybe so, or maybe it was a coincidence that her fiancé died soon after walking under a ladder.

With Rory is her black and white dog Pluckie. As Rory takes her first walk in town, Pluckie pulls on her leash, insisting that Rory accompany her into the back room of the Lucky Dog Boutique. That turns out to be a good idea since the store’s owner, Martha, is lying ill on the floor. But Martha is conscious and says she knows she’ll be fine since seeing a black and white dog is lucky. And Martha soon asks Rory to stay and manage her store at least for a while, which isn’t too far out of line since Rory is an assistant manager at a chain pet supply store back home in L.A. Of course Rory agrees, especially after her arm is also twisted by the town’s police chief Justin Halbertson, who’s like a son to Martha.

Yes, there’s a murder. It’s a cozy mystery, after all. And since Martha’s the main suspect Rory has to help her.

Meanwhile, there are lots of tourists in Destiny who walk the downtown sidewalks avoiding the cracks in the pavement and picking up lucky heads-up pennies left there by the shopkeepers to encourage their customers. The shops in town all have superstition themes, unsurprisingly–establishments like the Lucky Dog Boutique, of course, and also the Broken Mirror Bookstore next door owned by the man who wrote the premiere book on superstitions, The Destiny of Superstitions, and his partner. Others include the Black Cat Inn, Beware-of-Bubbles Coffee Shop, Shamrock Steakhouse, Apple-A-Day Cafe, Heads-Up Penny Gift Shop, and even the Break-A-Leg Theater.

I’d like to visit Destiny someday. Hey, in fact, I’ve already visited it often–in my head! It has been great fun creating the town, visualizing it, mapping it in my mind, even coming up with the story of why it was founded years ago by two Forty-Niners who panned for gold and actually found some at the end of a rainbow, leading them to believe in superstitions.

I hope you visit Destiny, too–in LOST UNDER A LADDER and its sequels. And, hey, I believe it’ll be good luck to read the Superstition Mysteries! At least I’m crossing my fingers that all my readers experience the best of luck.

Thanks to Rantin’ Ravin’ and Reading for hosting me here during my Great Escapes Blog Tour!

Are superstitions real? Rory Chasen doesn’t think so–until her beloved fiance walks under a ladder and is killed by a car five minutes later. Needing closure, Rory takes her dog Pluckie to a town called Destiny, where superstitions are a way of life.

Rory’s visit to Destiny takes an unexpected turn when Pluckie saves the life of Martha, the owner of the Lucky Dog Boutique. To show her gratitude, Martha offers Rory a job at the pet store. But when Martha becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the local bookshop owner, Rory refuses to believe that she would do it. Rory is convinced the real killer still roams Destiny’s streets, and she must uncover the truth before Martha is hauled off to jail.

MY REVIEW

I love starting a new series and this one looks like it will be a lot of fun. A little quirky, but fun. Are you superstitious? I always leave by the same door I entered and a lot of other foolish things so I suppose I am. But nothing like the people of Destiny! The police will come out to investigate over spilled milk and no one ever steps on a crack. Rory doesn’t believe, or thinks she doesn’t, until her fiancé is killed. After walking under a ladder. So she goes to Destiny to learn about superstitions because everything from the business names, attire and walking down the street is all about superstition. Lots of great characters and wonderful writing means I will be on the lookout for the next in this series, it is ♥♥♥♥♥

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Mollie Cox Bryan writes the Cumberland Creek Mysteries, published by Kensington. The first book, Scrapbook of Secrets, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 2012; the next one Scrapped, was published in January 2013. Death of an Irish Divawas the third in the series. Plans for the series include two more novels and two novellas—the first one Scrappy Summer will be available in summer 2014. She writes, gardens, runs, and scrapbooks in Waynesboro, Va. with her husband and two daughters. Today is the third stop on Mollie’s tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours for A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS. Read about it below and to enter to win a copy, just go HERE.

Christmas is just around the corner, and the ladies of the Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Crop are thrilled when Sheila wins the first place prize in a scrapbooking design contest: a ten-day scrapbook-themed cruise in the Caribbean. Vera and Paige decide to tag along, which should pose the perfect opportunity to learn some new techniques, mingle with fellow croppers, and get in some rest and relaxation before the chaos of Christmas. But when Sheila finds a famous crafter dead, and investigators determine she was poisoned, the luxury cruise veers toward disaster as Sheila becomes the number one suspect – or was she really the intended victim? Just as the croppers begin un-wrapping the truth, a storm strands them at sea, and they’ll find it’s harder than ever to survive the holidays with a killer on deck…

MY REVIEW

I really enjoyed this book. From its arrival – a book, not an ebook, and one with such a lovely cover, it got me right into the Christmas spirit! I did spend some time wondering who the protagonist was. It seemed to be Sheila but then when Annie was called to consult, I wondered could it be her and she just couldn’t make this cruise. Then I decided it didn’t matter. Perhaps the “protagonist” was actually an ensemble cast – all the members of the scrapping group. A clever idea. I also wondered a bit about background that was mentioned but I didn’t fully get, not having read the previous books. But it didn’t hurt the current story – just made me want to go back and read the earlier ones. At the back of the book is a very handy glossary of scrapbooking terms, tips on scrapbooking your holidays, scrapbooking essentials for the beginner and the first chapter of DEATH OF AN IRISH DIVA. A CRAFTY CHRISTMAS is a great way to start getting into the holiday spirit and I think you should go right out get it and let the season begin! ♥♥♥♥♥

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DISCLOSURE

In accordance with FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I would like to let everyone know that books featured on this blog were either provided by the publisher or author or were purchased by me or borrowed from the library. The books I received from publishers and authors were provided for review and no payment was received by me and did not influence my opinion of the material. I’ve made it very simple. If I can’t give it a good review, I don’t publish the review. Mine is only one opinion and I have been known to be wrong. Some author who worked hard doesn’t need me knocking their book.
♥♥♥♥♥ Absolutely Amazing. When I start adding +’s it is beyond amazing, too good to even categorize.
♥♥♥♥ I really, really enjoyed it.
♥♥♥ A good solid read
If it is ♥ or ♥♥ I just don’t review it.